Gutter Guard Device

ABSTRACT

A roof mounted gutter guard device with unfolding arms which extend for the purpose of receiving a support rail. The deployed support rail allows ladders to be supported away from the roofline and gutters in a safe and effective manner. The deployed support rail of the gutter guard device is also used to hang decorations and other accessories from the rail without placing stress on the roofline and gutters.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/572,732 filed on Jul. 21, 2011. This application relates to a roof affixed ladder mount. The entire disclosure contained in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/572,732 including the attachments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY

The disclosed device is intended to be affixed to the roof of a building as a support and guide for a ladder to be mounted from the roof line to the ground so as to protect the gutter or edge of the roof from potential damage caused by the gutter or roof edge supporting the weight of a person climbing the ladder resting against the gutter or roof edge. The device can also be utilized to hang decorations or other items. The device is affixed to the planar surface of the roof so as to distribute the mechanical stress placed on the device over a wider area than the substantially linear area of contact along the gutter or roof line. The device can be a single rail-like support or a plurality of rail-like supports. The rail-like support(s) are affixed to arms so as to fold up and forward from the roof for deployment and up and back to the roof for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the installed gutter guard device.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded, perspective view of the gutter guard device.

FIG. 3 depicts perspective views of the roof mount.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the extension arm.

FIG. 5 depicts

FIG. 6 depicts

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the roof mount 1 of the present application is depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The roof mount 1 of the gutter guard device 100 is affixed to the top of a building roof within close proximity to a gutter. The roof mount 1 is comprised of a support beam 10 affixed to an extension beam catch 15 used to lock the extension beam 50, i.e. extension arm 50, into a preferred position, typically substantially parallel to the top of the gutter. In an embodiment, the extension beam is rotatably affixed within the extension beam catch 15 and pivots about a hinge 26 or similar means of attachment which permits the extension arm 12 to rotate through the extension arm catch 15. Alternatively the extension arm can be mounted outside of the extension beam catch 15.

As depicted in FIG. 2, an embodiment of the support beam 10 possesses at least one series of mounting bracket attachment holes 18. In this embodiment, the support beam 10 is secured to the roof by securing at least one mounting bracket 30 over the support beam 10 and onto the top of the roof. In an embodiment, the mounting bracket 30 is substantially u-shaped and possesses two vertical bracket side walls 32 and a top bracket wall 35. In a still further embodiment, the mounting bracket 30 possesses at least one flange 37, and preferably two flanges 37, extending laterally and substantially perpendicularly from the bracket side walls 32 and away from the opposing flange 37. The mounting bracket 30 possesses at least one beam fastener hole 33 located in either a side bracket wall 32 or top bracket wall 35. In an additional preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket 30 possesses at least two linearly aligned beam fastener holes 33 through which a beam-to-bracket fastening means, e.g. a bolt, may pass to secure the support beam 10 and mounting bracket 30 together. Each flange 37 possesses a flange mounting hole 38 through which a bracket-to-roof fastening means, e.g. lag screws, is used to secure to flange 37 of the mounting bracket 30 to the roof surface. In a preferred embodiment, two mounting brackets 30 are used to secure the support beam 10 at substantially both ends (proximal and distal) to prevent rotation of the support beam 10 about the point of attachment to the roof.

In an embodiment, the extension beam catch 15 is comprised essentially at least one and preferably two vertical walls affixed to the proximal end of the support beam 10 so as to partially border the path of articulation of the extension beam 50, the proximal end of the support beam 10 being the end mounted nearest the gutter over which the extension beam will be deployed when the support beam is mounted perpendicularly relative to the roof edge. Each vertical plate of the extension beam catch 15 functions as a stop for the extension beam 50 which is rotatably affixed to the catch 15. In an embodiment, each vertical wall of the catch 15 possesses a catch hinge port 25 through which a hinge 26 is removably, and alternatively permanently installed, and which is mated with and passes through extension arm hinge ports 54. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge 26 is a cylindrical bolt, rod, or pin about which the extension arm 50 rotates as it articulates toward and away from the support beam 10. In various alternative embodiments the bolt, rod or pin acting as a hinge 26 may be threaded or alternatively unthreaded and is securely installed by methods know to those skilled in the art. In an embodiment, the walls of the catch 15 possess catch stop holes 24 through which a physical stop, e.g. a pin, will pass and which are mated with corresponding extension arm stop holes 56 in the extension beam 50.

The extension arm 50, depicted in FIG. 4, is affixed to the roof mount 1 at the extension arm catch 15 so as to allow the extension beam 50 to fold up and back against the top of the support beam 1 for storage when the extension arm 50 is not deployed. When deployed, the extension arm 50 articulates up from the top of the support beam 1 and forward toward the roof edge over which it is intended to overhang. In various embodiments, the distal end of the extension arm 50 is mounted so as to articulate about the hinge 26 on the extension arm catch 15. The extension arm 50 possesses extension arm stop holes 56 which are mated to and correspond with similarly spaced catch stop holes 24 on the catch 15.

The catch stop holes 24 are arranged in a radially oriented pattern about the catch hinge port 25. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of extension arm stop holes 56 are arranged at different distances from the extension arm hinge port 54 on the distal end of the extension arm 50. The catch stop holes 24 are arranged in rows, each row arranged at a different radius from the catch hinge port 25 and corresponding to the distance of at least one of extension arm stop holes 56 on the extension arm 50. The plurality of extension arm stop holes 56 represent varying roof pitches so as to allow the extension arm 50 to be securely positioned at a plane roughly parallel to the ground. As the distal end of the extension arm 50 articulates through the catch 15, a stop means, e.g. pin or bolt, is passed through the catch stop holes 24 and a preferred aligned extension arm stop hole 56. The extension arm 50, as depicted in FIG. 4, further possesses a cross beam support means 58 so that a cross beam 60, i.e. rail, can be mounted across two deployed extension arms 50 on separate gutter guard devices 100. In a preferred embodiment, the cross beam 60 is installed as a sheath fastened over a cross beam seat 58 acting as a cross beam support means 58. In an preferred embodiment, the cross beam support means 58 is arranged between the proximal and distal ends of the extension arm 50 so as to permit the proximal end of the extension arm 50 to act as a stop to prevent a ladder or other object resting against or affixed to the cross beam 60 from sliding laterally off of the cross beam 60. It is further envisioned that the cross beam can be rubberized to increased sliding friction across the cross beam 60 to prevent sliding, or be notched or be formed with raised sections to act as stops to prevent sliding across the cross beam 60. Hangers 70, fastenable or otherwise, are envisioned to allow the use of the cross beam 60 to hang items such as lights, plants, or other decorative items from the deployed gutter guard device's 100 cross beam 60.

As depicted in FIG. 2, a roof gasket 38 is placed under mounting bracket 30 during installation for the purpose of providing impact and vibration protection for the roof as well as provide a seal when a threaded fastener or other fastening means is used to attach roof mounting bracket 30 on the roof surface. The extension arm 50 is held in its deployed position in a plane roughly parallel with the ground and the top of the gutter. A ladder may be placed so as to rest against the extension arm 50, cross beam support means 58, or cross beam 60 for the purpose of preventing damage to the gutter or roof. It is envisioned that more than two gutter guard devices 100 may be required for longer rooflines or to support more weight.

FIG. 6 depicts a view of this assembly of a hanger 70 which is designed to be fitted over the cross beam 60. In a non-exclusive preferred embodiment, an s-shaped hanger provides lateral support across the cross beam 60 through a beam support hook 72 at a distal end which can be placed over the cross beam 60 for lateral support across the cross beam 60 and forms an accessory support hook 74 at the proximal end of the hanger to hold a variety of decorative items that might be displayed such as Christmas lights, banners, or other visual displays. An alternative embodiment of a hanger 70 is depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows that Large Clip 8 demonstrates that a larger structural component could be hung from the gutter guard device 100 as well as temporary securing a ladder or other structural piece

While the gutter guard device 100 could be made of a wide variety of materials and with innumerable configurations of cross beams 60, it is preferably formed as a rectangular tube formed of a non-ferrous, metallic material such as aluminum. A dense, thick-gauge structural plastic may be utilized depending upon the load to be supported. Alternatively, ferrous alloys could be employed as well and appropriately treated to inhibit rusting. Lastly, it is certainly within the scope of the present disclosure to utilize a variety of materials simultaneously to optimize strength where appropriate and to reduce mass when necessary.

FIGS. ______ and ______ depict perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the roof mount having a thinner profile support for fixation along the roof. A smaller height profile provides a more aesthetically pleasing device and one that is less likely to be noticed, especially when not in use. The width of the support is a more critical parameter than height in distributing the stress of supported articles since stress distribution is accomplished across the surface area of the support in contact with the roof. An increase in support height merely provides additional strength to the support itself, but does not translate into better distribution of stress across an area of the roof in contact with the support. 

1. A roof mounted gutter guard device comprising: a. a roof support, wherein said roof support comprises a support beam attachable to a roof surface and an extension arm catch; b. an extension arm, wherein said extension arm is rotatably affixed at said extension arm catch so as to fold over onto a top surface of said support beam and unfold for deployment away from said support beam about a point of attachment at said catch, said extension arm further comprising a cross beam support means to support one end of a cross beam attached thereto; c. a stop means in said catch for fixing the deployed position of said extension arm at a plurality of angles relative to said support beam.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further includes a cross beam, said cross beam having a length, a height, a width, and having a mounting means on said cross beam to mate with a cross beam support means of said extension arm.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said cross beam is fastened onto said cross beam support means.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein said cross beam support means is arranged between the proximal and distal ends of said extension arm so as to allow the proximal end of said extension arm to act as a stop for an accessory resting on and capable of sliding across said cross beam.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said cross beam has a rubberized coating which increases sliding friction relative to an uncoated said cross beam.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said cross beam possesses cross beam stops along said cross beam length.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said cross beam stops along said cross beam length are selected from the group consisting of notches in said cross beam surface and protrusions above said cross beam surface.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein a gasket is affixed to said bottom surface of said roof support.
 9. The method of deploying a rail along the length of a roofline by mounting a plurality of gutter guard devices of claim 1 on a roof surface at a roof support so as to orient the length of said roof support substantially perpendicular to a roofline so that deployed extension arms of said gutter guard devices will overhang said roofline in a plane substantially parallel to said ground when each extension arm catch engages its respective said extension arm and fixes its angular position relative to said roof support, and mounting a cross beam between consecutively deployed said extension arms.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said cross beam is deployed so as to permit an object to rest against said cross beam so as to support the mass of the object at a distance from a roofline or installed gutter over which said cross beam is deployed without damaging said roofline or said installed gutter.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein hangers are supported by said cross beam is deployed so as to permit an object to hang from the length of said cross beam so as to support the mass of the object at a distance from a roofline or installed gutter over which said cross beam is deployed without damaging said roofline or said installed gutter. 